Machine for driving rail fastening screws in railroad ties



Aplffl 1, 1952 w. E. PIPER MACHINE FOR DRIVING RAIL. FASTENING SCREWS IN RAILROAD TIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1946 :Morucgi.

April 1, 1952 2,591,005

W. E. PIPER MACHINE FOR DRIVING RAIL FASTENING SCREWS IN RAILROAD TIES Filed D60. 4, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FICi-fi fa -2 51122 5k?" 3 FILE. 5. l \30 3nventor:

244/. E. HP

April 1, 1952 MACHINE FOR REI'Ib I G 155 FASTENING 91,005

SCREWS IN RAILROAD TIES Flled Dec. 4, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIlllIlIII/IIIIIall 1 I film Btwentor:

WM 1 PIPER,

attorneys.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 MACHINE FOR DRIVING RAIL FASTENING SCREWS IN RAILROAD TIES William E. Piper, Salt Lake City, Utah Application December 4, 1946, Serial No. 713,994 (01. 144-s) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and ma-.

chine for driving rail fastening screws in railroad ties although not necessarily limited to this purpose.

Among the principal objects of the invention are:

(a) To make feasible in railroad track construction the superior holding properties of screws over and above the usual track spikes, thus greatly promoting safety of travel.

(b) To provide portable means capable of expeditiously driving screws for fastening rails to ties.

(c) To prolong the life of wooden railroad ties.

(d) To effect worthwhile savings in the maintenance of railroad tracks.

Other important objects will become evident as the following description proceeds.

In spite of many attempts to improve upon the primitive wooden tie for supporting the steel rails of a railroad track, the fact remains that in the most modern trackconstruction the wooden tie still holds practically first place.

An outstanding shortcoming in the use of Wooden ties is the common method of fastening the rails to the ties by means of steel spikes that are driven into the ties. It is well known in the art of construction that the holding power of helically threaded screws is far greater than that of nails or spikes of approximately equal crosssections.

The chief problem for using screws for fastening railroad rails to the ties heretofore has been the lack of facilities to drive lag screws in an expeditious and economical manner. The solution of this problem is accomplished by means of the invention.

In the method of the invention, specially de signed lag screws are used instead of the usual track spikes for fastening the rails to the ties. A feature of the invention is to expedite the installation of the lag screws in the ties. Inasmuch as pilot holes must be drilled for lag screws, the

method of the invention contemplates arranging a group of pilot drills, in conjunction with a groupj of screwdrivers in order that the drilling of the pilot holes and the driving of the screws proceeds continuously and in the proper sequence. For this purpose pilot drills and screwdrivers are arranged in tandem so that while one set of holes is being drilled, another set of previously drilled holes is receiving the screws.

The placing of the screws is intended to follow substantially the usual plan of placing track spikes, that is to say, one screw is placed on each side of the flange of the rail in each tie, the screws being spaced apart longitudinally along the rail or across the tie, so that the pattern in the aggregate presents a staggered configuration of the screws, corresponding to the usual staggering of track spikes.

In the machine of the invention, two groups of tools, drills or augers and screwdrivers, are advantageously mounted on a portable truck adapted to run on a railroad track. In the preferred form the truck is automotive in character, and is provided with a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, together with usual appurtenances such as transmission gearing, brakes and so on. Facilities for producing compressed air and electricity for use in operating the aforementioned tools can also be part of the portable truck plant.

In using the machine the truck is moved along a railroad track from one location to another, as required by any particular arrangement of the ties. As a rule, after the truck is spotted it is secured in place by any suitable means, such as a brake. In any principal spotted position the machine is disposed so as to operate simultaneously on two consecutive ties, that is to say, drilling four holes in one tie in order that two staggered holes straddle the flange of each rail. At each setting of the machine four screws are installed in the next preceding tie previously drilled. Therefore at each setting of the machine it operatively encompasses two ties. However, since railroad ties are seldom accurately spaced apart from each other, the method includes the step of expeditiously adjusting the tandem relative positions of the respective drills and screw drivers to suit the spacing of any particular ties.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of a machine according to the invention,

Fig. 1 represents a general plan of the machine 7 arranged in the form of a truck, the platform being omitted so as to reveal the substructure.

Fig. 2, a fragmentary side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, parts in the background being omitted;

a broken away for convenience; in this figure the drills and the screwdrivers are shown in alternative positions relatively to Fig. 2;

Fig. '7, a vertical section taken on the line 'i-'! in Fig. 6;

- Fig. 8, a vertical section showing an alternative construction adapted for use with the machine of the invention;

Fig. 9, an elevation, partly in section, of a special lag screw adapted for use with the machine of the invention;

Fig. 10, a top plan corresponding to Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line ll-ll in Fig. 4, drawn to an enlarged scale, portions being omitted for con venience;

Fig. 12, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line I2I2 in Fig. 4, drawn to an enlarged scale, portions omitted;

Fig. 13, a diagram, in detailed vertical section, of a tool lifting mechanism;

Figs. 14 and 15, an axial section taken through the operating valve of Fig. 13, drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 16, a plan in outline, of the entire machine; and,

Fig. 17, an electric wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral in denotes the rails of a railroad track, while the numerals 2| to 24 denote ties on which the rails are supported. It is well known that a lag screw always requires a pilot hole to be drilled or bored in wood before driving the screw, the hole being somewhat less in diameter than the screw. The tools used are drill or auger bits and screwdriver bits, which in the present instance are inserted in suitable chucks and rotated electrically in a manner that i well known. Chucks, in Fig. 6, otherwise in Fig. 2.

Assuming that the machine 30 of the invention is spotted as shown in Fig. l, and further, that the screws 25 have previously been driven in certain ties 2|, and assuming also, Fig. 2, pilot holes 2211 in tie 22 have just been drilled, it brings the observer to the point where screws 25a are held by the respective screwdriver bits 2'! ready for driving into the holes 22a in tie 22. At the same time drill bits 26 are ready to be plunged into tie 23. After driving screws 25a and drilling pilot holes in tie 23, the machine will be ready driving units, the electric motor rotating means 28 being advantageously of the same kind and purchasable in the open market. A special feature of each rotating means 28 is an elongated sleeve 29 for reinforcing the stems that hold the respective drill bits 26 and screwdriver bits 21. Hereinafter the drilling units in general will be termed simply drills and the screwdriver unit screwdrivers.

The drills straddle a rail in pairs, and likewise the screwdrivers, it being understood that the relative spacing is the same, since the screwdrivers must be in alignment with the holes previously drilled.

In the present showing the machine 30 comprises a platform 3| mounted on a substructure or running gear 32, which in turn is mounted on axles 33 having flanged wheels 34. The running gear in this instance includes the side frames 35 which are advantageously made up of forked beam 36 and depending beams 31,

'" and again retracting the screwdriver.

these being structural steel channels suitably united by welding or otherwise. The side frames rest on journal boxes 38 in which the axles 33 are rotatable, all in accordance with general practice, the present showing being merely illustrative. The two side frames are connected to each other transversely by beams 39 and 40.

Fixed on top of the depending beam 36, for instance by spot welding, are guide channels 4|, and spaced apart from these and directly above are similar but inverted guide channels 42, the latter being supported on the uprights 43. Disposed for reciprocation in guide channels 4| and 42 are the respective pairs of long slides 45, 46, and short slides 45-1, 45l, Figs. 4 and 6. Fixed on slides 45 and 45l are bosses 41, and on slides 46 and 43-|, bosses 48. Rigidly mounted in bosses 41 are standards 49, and in bosses 48 are standards 50. Near the top of each of the standards 49 and 50 are air-lift cylinders 5|, these being clamped in the respective bands 52 by means of set screws 53. The hub portions 54 of the band are in turn fixed on the respective standards. Below the air-lift cylinders 5| are the electric rotating units 28, these being held in bands 55 having hub portions slidable on standards 49 and 50. Thus are formed two pairs of intersliding tool carriages above each rail, the carriages being manipulated as will presently be described.

The purpose of the air-lift 5| is to move the respective electric units up and down as required for pushing a pilot drill into a tie, pulling it out again, and similarly driving a screw into a tie As in any air-lift, a piston 51, Fig. 13, is mounted on a piston rod 58. For the present purpose, each piston rod at its lower end is fixed in a hub 59 forming an integral part of each respective electric unit 28. In Fig. 2, the piston and the parts attached to it are shown in an upper position, while in Fig. 3, the same parts are shown in a lower position.

In using the machine, it is spotted approximately above a pair of ties and secured in place by any means, such as a vehicle brake (not shown). The tool carriages are then individually spotted according to the desired placing of the novel track screws 25. As at present shown, the machine moves progressively towards the right as indicated by the arrow 44 in Fig. 4. Therefore, the tool duality at the right of this figure consists of drills and that at the left, of screwdrivers. In the event of moving the machine progressively counter to the arrow 44, it only means interchanging the different bits 26 and 21.

The mechanism for individually spotting the tools comprises for illustration lever arm 60, Figs. 4 and 11, having a pin 6| working in a slot 62 formed in the end of the slide 46. Another arm 63, the counterpart of 50, is similarly pivoted to the slide 46-l. The arms and 63 are rigidly mounted on a quill or tubular shaft 64. The arm 60 has a lug 65 in which is hooked the rod 65 that is connected to the lower end of an operating lever 61. By moving the operating lever back and forth corresponding movement is transmitted through the various connecting parts to the carriage of slides 46 and 46-4. In a similar manner, the carriage of slides 45 and 45-1 is moved back or forth by means of the arms 68 and 59 that are rigidly mounted on a shaft 10 that works inside the quill 64. The arm 68, lug H, rod 12, and operating lever 13 are similar to the corresponding parts just previously described.

ed on the crossbeam 39.

the respective bracket I5, the latter being mount- Each bracket has a quadrant I6 with a friction face 11 engaged by a friction shoe 18 under normal pressure of a compression spring 19. When desired, the friction shoe can be released from contact with face 11 by means of a grip 80 connected to a rod 8I that in 'turn is attached to the shoe 18. The respective tools are thus maintained against displacement during operation of the tools. What has just been explained applies as well to the tools shown on the far side of the center line C--C, Fig. l, with the exception that the parts are reversed.

In Fig. 8 an alternative of the tool-carrying slides is shown. In this construction the slides 84 and 85, instead of being completely rectangular, are provided with shoe strips 86 that reduce the frictional bearing areas between the slides themselves and between the slides and their guide channels.

A convenient way of operating the various drills and screwdrivers is by means of electric push button controls as illustrated in the wiring diagram, Fig. 17. Two operators are required one at the control station A for the nearside tools and the other at the station B for the farside tools. In addition, two service persons are stationed within the manhole 81, Fig. 16, the duties of these servicers being principally to supply screws to the screwdrivers from a stock carried on board the car, and to perform any other needed service.

Assuming that the various control means are within convenient reach of the operators, the car is spotted in a position where the tools are poised above a pair of ties somewhat as indicated in Fig. 2, leaving the tools ready to descend and to perform their respective functions. In the present instance the descent of the tools is brought about by gravity, it being assumed that the electric units 28 and the various appurtenances suspended from the piston rods 58 have sufficient weight to supply the pressure necessary for pushing the drills 26 into the tie as well as to bear down sufficiently on the screwdrivers to cause the screws to be driven into the .previously drilled pilot holes. The screws before being driven are removably held by the screwdriver bits in any one of several different ways so that after the driving is completed, the bit can be easily withdrawn from the screw. In the present instance the bits 21 are assumed to be Alnico permanent magnets, square in crosssection, so that the service men need only place the screws 25 on the magnetic bits in the proper position, Fig. 9.

The wiring diagram, Fig. 17, sets forth the working of the system. In the normal status a solenoid 88 in a circuit 89 is under is under energization to hold a threeway valve 90 in the position of Fig. 14, where it admits compressed air to the cylinder 5| from a suitable source (not shown) by means of a conduit -I, holding, the piston 51 at the upper end of its stroke. Circuit 89 is controlled through a relay solenoid 9| that is under energization counter to the tension of a spring 92 that holds double switch 93 closed. Normally, the motor 28I that includes a limit switch 28-2, is dead.

To start a tool on the working course, the operator presses a push-button 94, thereby deenergizing relay BI and in turn, solenoid 88. This causes the evacuation of the air from cylinder and consequently, the descent of piston 51 with its load hanging on piston rod 58. Before the tool strikes, a push-button 95 is pressed momentarily; this energizes a relay solenoid 96 and closes a double switch 91 that energizes a motor circuit 98, causing motor 28-4 and its corresponding tool to rotate. Rotation of the motor continues after push-button 95 is released because of the holding contact of relay 96. As soon as the descending tool'reaches the desired point, limit switch 28-2 contacts a point 99 on the flange of a rail and-moves switch element I00 counter to the tension of a sprin IOI. This energizes relay conductor leg I02 momentarily; and through relay 9| restores the starting status through solenoid 8B, meanwhile having deenergized relay conductor leg I03 whereby the holding contact of solenoid 96 is released, thus restoring the entire circuit to its normal status. This concludes an operation cycle of one particular tool 28 and leaves it ready for the next cycle. For stopping the motor in emergencies a push-button is located at I04.

Wiring, as just described, is provided for each tool, which means four sets or twelve buttons on each of the control panels I05 and I05--I in Fi 16'.

It will be understood that during the down stroke of a tool, the valve will be in the position of Fig. 15, causing the air under piston 51 to be discharged through passage I06, a regulating valve I01 being pre-set to prevent too rapid a drop. At I08 is a regulating valve pre-set against excessive upstroke speed.

In order to take care of the proper spacing of the dual drills or dual screwdrivers, Fig. 4, transvesely of a rail as demanded by variations in width of rail flanges, the hereinbefore mentioned set screws 53 can be loosened, thereby leaving the affected tool free for'turning about its axis I09. Since such electric tools customarily. have the axis IIO of the bit eccentric relatively to the axis I09, the tool is turned about the latter axis until the desired spacing of the bit axis is attained. Thereupon, set screw 53 is tightened for the new position.

Attention is directed to the importance of so supporting the duality of tools that their accessibiity is not impaired in being serviced. To this end the depending beam 36, which occupies only the limited space between the two opposite edges of a rail flange, is well adapted. Thus, the tool stems carrying the bits are allowed to straddle the rail, leaving at the same time suflicient manhole clearance on each side thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 16.

In the broad aspect of the invention other means than those herein described can be resorted to for lifting andlowering the tools and for rotating them, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

In some cases it might be desirable to provide a magnetic or other type of yielding clutch, as is well known, to hold a screwdriver bit in a way to avoid excessive torque stresses, especially when a screw is driven home to bear on top of the rail flange. In Fig. 9 it is to be noticed that the frusto-conical surface under the head of the screw 25 conforms to the customary 13 degree angle of a standard rail flange.

In the present drawings the spacing of the ties is shown as being uniform, but in actual practice considerable variation occurs, especially on curves. Therefore, after roughly spotting the machine over a pair of ties, the final spotting of the individual carriage-supported tool dualities is expeditiously accomplished by means of levers 6.1 and 18 working through the respective con nections.

In specifying the locations of the various tools, it is convenient to refer to the two that arein conjunction over the same rail and the same tie as a duality. For example in Fig. 2, a duality of drills is enclosed by the broken loop HI, and a duality of screwdrivers by the broken loop at H2. Thus, it will be clear that there is a pair of drill dualities spaced apart from each other lengthwise of a tie, and similarly a pair of screwdriver dualities' spaced apart from each other lengthwise of the next tie, the pairs of said dualities being in tandem arrangement lengthwise of the track.

Whereas this invention has been described with respect to a preferred specific embodiment thereof, it should be understood that various changes may be made in said embodiment and various other forms of the invention may be constructed by those skilled in the art without departing from the general purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a railroad work car for driving rail-holdtending longitudinally of said manhole in positions immediately above the respective rails; a

rectangular frame resting on said beams and ris' mg vertically from said manhole; forward and rearward pairs of longitudinally spaced standards mounted for respectively independent longitudinal sliding movement in said frame at opposit-e sides-thereof; pairs of rotary tools eccentri- -cally mounted for vertical sliding movement on respective pairs of standards, the component tools of each pair extending at opposite sides of the beam above which they are mounted; means for adjustablymoving the respective pairs of standards relative to one another; means for rotating the respective tools; and means for lowering and raising the respective tools on said standerds.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the respective tools are respectively independent electric motors which serve to eccentrically mount said tools on the standards; and the means for lowering and raising the respective tools are air-operated piston and cylinder assemblies fixed eccentrically on said standards and coupled to the respective electric motors for lowering and raising said electric motors and the tool holders which they carry.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, where in the upper and lower longitudinal members of the frame constitute slideways, and the pairs of standards are fixed to upper and lower slides slidably engaging respective upper and lower slideways.

WILLIAM E. PIPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,790 Jacobs June 23, 1908 953,668 Kendrick Mar. 29, 1910 975,042 Jacobs Nov. 8, 1910 1,060,173 Edwards Apr. 29, 1913 1,072,618 Kendrick Sept. 9, 1913 1,204,501 Shipley Nov. 14, 1916 1,216,047 Backscheider Feb. 13, 1917 1,748,556 McKnight Feb. 25, 1930 1,767,327 Triana June 24, 1930 1,889,136 Wagner Nov. 29, 1932 1,977,252 Palkowski et al Oct. 16, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 447,472 France Oct. 29, 1912 17,437 France June 21, 1913 1st addition to 4 15,113 

